Popular English TV presenters Ant & Dec have announced that they are contracted with broadcaster ITV for two more years in a ‘golden handcuffs’ move (which has been in effect since 2000) which will now continue through to the end of 2013.

The terms of the contract mean that they are not allowed to work for any other channel (with a possible exception of charity events), and the Newcastle (England)-based pair will be focusing their efforts on hosting current, new, and revived series.

As well as presenting the newest series of reality shows I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (the latest of which starts this weekend) and Britain’s Got Talent over the next two years at least, the deal has also uncovered confirmed plans for a revised version of the duo’s hit entertainment series Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Stopped after series 9 in 2009, the variety programme made way for Ant & Dec’s family-based gameshow Push The Button, although that particular project has not been seen as one of their most successful.

ITV controller Peter Fincham gave a statement on the new contract: “Ant and Dec remain at the very top of their game as two of the nation’s most popular television stars. Their ability to connect with our audience is unrivalled and I’m delighted that we’re extending our exclusive partnership with them both for a further two years.”

Anthony McPartlin (‘Ant’) added: “We are really pleased to sign with ITV for another two years and continue to make the programmes we love with the channel.”

Declan Donnelly (‘Dec’), revealed the plans for the tenth series of Takeaway: “We always said we would bring back Saturday Night Takeaway, so we’re particularly delighted plans are now in place. We have lots of fresh and exciting ideas for the brand new series.”

Ant & Dec had started work with ITV in 1998 with children’s morning variety series SM:TV and CD:UK, and since 2000 have been involved in more lucrative ITV projects, such as Pop Idol, Gameshow Marathon, Push The Button, and this year’s ratings flop Red or Black?, sitting alongside the more acclaimed successes mentioned above. With the pair now having been ‘golden handcuffed’ for 13 years, how many more years will be added to the total of Ant & Dec’s relationship with ITV?

2 Comments

I am so plased and very excitted that Saturday Night Takeway coming back on I thing its the progamme I loved even more I actually believe its a comedy how cool is that can not wait as I am the biggest fans off comedy like Fawilty Towers Two Pints Off Logger And A Pocket Of Crisps Mr Bean and The Royal Family too so I liked them and I thing with this progamme its funny because its has got Ant & Dec actually in the show how amazing is that my faverourt in Ant & Dec is has to be Dec because his funniest then Ant thank you so much for my comments on here its looking good so far